Posted 8-14-08

President signs Enzi's higher education bill into law

Legislation improves access, affordability of college

Washington D.C. (Office of Senator Enzi) -- U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., today applauded presidential signing of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H.R. 4137), which will help Wyoming students considering the possibility of pursuing education at a university or community college turn their higher education dreams into reality.

"I am pleased the President signed the Higher Education Opportunity Act today. This new law is a major victory for Wyoming's students and their families because it will significantly improve higher education affordability, access and accountability," Enzi said. "Whether you're a traditional student right out of high school, a parent going back to school or a worker seeking to boost your credentials, this bill helps you.

"The knowledge and skills required to succeed in today's ever-evolving, increasingly high-tech workplace have significantly changed, and American workers need to be prepared. The economic security of Wyoming and our entire country relies upon how well we bridge the gap between the occupations of yesterday and the careers of the future. Now that the President has signed it into law, the Higher Education Opportunity Act will help us to get there by providing our students with access to affordable higher education."

Enzi, as Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, played a pivotal role in the development of the Higher Education Opportunity Act since the last reauthorization expired in Sept. 2004. For more than four years, Enzi and his fellow committee members were in negotiations with the House over a number of provisions within the bill. Final Congressional passage came last month on July 31 - a full 10 years after the last reauthorization of the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

For more information about the Higher Education Opportunity Act, visit Enzi's Web site and click on the July 31 news release titled "Senate sends pivotal higher education bill to President."